McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team split a doubleheader with a school from the Great Plains Athletic Conference for the second day in a row, falling to Hastings, 14-10, in game one, then rebounding for a 6-4 win in game two Sunday at Wall Park.
Game 1 --- Hastings 14, McPherson 10
Hastings scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning, keyed by a 3-run home run by Corrin Ziepke, to break a 10-10 tie en route to the game one victory.
McPherson jumped out to an 8-2 lead, scoring three runs in the first inning, one in the second and four in the third led by a pair of RBI singles by
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS).
The Broncos scratched out four runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to two runs, then grabbed the lead with four more in the sixth behind a solo home run by Kaitlynn Knott to lead off the frame, an RBI double by Ziepke four batters later, and a two-run homer by Lexie Linderman.
The Bulldogs countered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Jones slammed a two-run home run to center field that also scored
Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College).
Hastings led off the seventh inning with a ground-rule double over the left-field fence by Sarah Barger. Barger scored on an RBI double by Haleigh Cunningham, then after a walk to Ashlynn Clifford, Ziepke sent an 0-1 offering over the center-field fence for a 3-run home run.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs managed only a two-out single by
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS).
Barger picked up the win in relief for Hastings, which had 17 hits, including eight for extra bases.
Jordynn Corea (Amarillo, Texas, Tascosa HS) took the loss for McPherson, allowing four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Starter
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) scattered 10 runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out six.
Kortney Jones finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Salazar was also 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
Game 2 --- McPherson 6, Hastings 4
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead with runs in the first and second inning. Jessica Jones scored on a wild pitch in the first after leading off the inning with a single to shallow left-center.
Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University) was hit by a pitch to start the second inning, eventually scoring on an RBI single by
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) through the hole at shortstop.
The teams traded runs in the fourth with Hastings plating one when Clifford singled in pinch runner Elyssa Kohmetscher. McPherson responded when
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) drove in
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) with a single up the middle.
The Broncos added one in the fifth when Ziepke doubled in Cara Williams after Williams doubled down the right-field line to open the frame. That signaled the end of the day for McPherson starter
Kylee Martin (Colby, Kan., Goodland HS), who was replaced by
Katie Usdansky (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS).
McPherson extended its lead to 6-2 with three runs in the fifth as pinch runners
Amanda Connell (Wichita, Kan., Circle HS) and
Linsey Kramer (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) scored on a fielder's choice and an Almaraz double to center, respectively.
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) tallied the final run on a Conrad RBI groundout.
Hastings cut the deficit to two in the sixth when Chloe Boeka hit a two-out, two-RBI single down the left-field line, but Usdansky induced a groundout to get the Bulldogs out of the inning without further damage.
Almaraz finished with two hits and two RBIs to lead McPherson. Kortney Jones and Conrad also had a pair of hits. Martin picked up the win, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk before departing in the fifth. Usdansky threw the final 2 2/3 innings, scattering three hits and a walk to pick up the eight-out save.
Lexie Linderman scattered nine hits in six innings while taking the loss. Williams and Boeka each had two hits.
The Bulldogs (3-6), who are in the midst of an eight-game homestand, will host Baker University Saturday at noon.
